The world has seems to have drastically changed overnight. Social work, which is built on relationships, has been majorly impacted. In social work, we rely on face to face meetings to work with our clients to work on a common goal. These face to face meetings help build rapport and trust. How are we going to build that bond without meeting face to face?

Luckily, technology was ready to swoop in and help bridge the gap that was being created by COVID-19. Agency after agency started to depend on on technology to keep us connected with our clients during this time.  Families are relying on technology to stay connected while their kids are in foster care as visits have currently been suspended.  Technology is allowing for people to stay connected and stay safe.

Oregon is changing how we do foster care by implementing new measures to continue to meet the needs of our community by safely flattening the curve. Maple Star is beginning to use technology to allow us to continue to engage with our perspective and current foster parents. Using WebEx, Zoom and the like, we are still seeing our client’s once a week and still are able to recruit, train, and certify new foster families.

Starting this month, Maple Star’s in person trainings and orientation will occur on line using WebEx.  We have Orientation scheduled for every first Thursday of the month (dates below) from 6pm-8pm and Pre-Service training (new foster parent training) the third weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of every month from 10am-4pm (check out dates below). This two day training is required to become a foster parent with Maple Star.

Orientation Dates:

April 2nd from 6pm-8pm

May 7th from 6pm-8pm

June 5th from 6pm-8pm

July 2nd from 6pm-8pm

August 6th from 6pm-8pm

September 3 from 6pm-8pm

October 1st from 6pm-8pm

November 5th from 6pm-8pm

December 3rd from 6pm-8pm

Pre-Service Training Dates:

April 18th and 19th from 10am-4pm

May 16th and 17th from 10am-4pm

June 20th and 21st from 10am-4pm

July 18th and 19th from 10am-4pm

August 15th-16th from 10am-4pm

September 19th-20th from 10am-4pm

October 17th-18th from 10am-4pm

November 21st-22nd from 10am-4pm

December 19th-20th from 10am-4pm

Interested in attending a training? Let Amelia know at Amelia.bambam@pathways.com